The Miami FC – Magic City Soccerhttp://magiccity.soccer
This is Magic City Soccer, your home for everything you need to know about soccer in Miami-Dade County!Tue, 07 Aug 2018 22:57:08 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8https://i2.wp.com/magiccity.soccer/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/cropped-pixel.jpg?fit=32%2C32The Miami FC – Magic City Soccerhttp://magiccity.soccer
3232130982497The Miami FC 2 Claims 2018 NPSL Crown With Win Over FC Motownhttp://magiccity.soccer/2018/08/04/the-miami-fc-2-claims-2018-npsl-crown-with-win-over-fc-motown/
http://magiccity.soccer/2018/08/04/the-miami-fc-2-claims-2018-npsl-crown-with-win-over-fc-motown/#respondSun, 05 Aug 2018 01:37:17 +0000http://magiccity.soccer/?p=2043MADISON, NJ — The Miami FC 2 claimed the 2018 National Premier Soccer League Championship, defeating FC Motown 3-1 at Ranger Field on the campus of Drew University on Saturday night. In front of a Motown record crown that saw over 2100 people attend the final. Motown attempted to flood the midfield as they did …

]]>MADISON, NJ — The Miami FC 2 claimed the 2018 National Premier Soccer League Championship, defeating FC Motown 3-1 at Ranger Field on the campus of Drew University on Saturday night. In front of a Motown record crown that saw over 2100 people attend the final. Motown attempted to flood the midfield as they did often throughout the season.

Miami’s first goal came in the 33rd minute, when Jonny Steele fired a rock into the upper-right hand corner. The corner came from the foot of Dylan Mares who’s outswinger found Steele sitting all alone outside of the technical area. Miami’s lead would be short lived as Motown would be quick to fire back.

Motown would find their equalizer in the 35th minute. Miami has found themselves vulnerable when being indecisive along the back line. Jonny Steele would find himself the next victim of the situation as his errant pass into the midfield was picked up by Motown. The ball was fed over to Dilly Duka who scored his third goal in three straight matches during the NPSL playoffs.

The match turned in the 57th minute, when defender Chris Riordan fouled Jaime Chavez on the edge of the box and picked up a second yellow card. Riordan’s rash challenge would leave Motown a man down, and give Miami their best opportunity of the night. Dylan Mares converted the free kick to the low right-hand corner, and gave Miami a lead it would not relinquish.

Motown would push their numbers forward into the 80th minute with reckless abandon. With their backs against the wall Motown found several chances to equalize, none better than Julius James opportunity in the 76th minute. With numbers pushed forward, the assistant referee saved Motown a few times before Jeffrey Michaud broke free in the 81st minute.

As the final whistle blew, Miami’s vindication story has been written. The former NASL Spring and Fall champion would find themselves again a top another league’s final standings.

This is the first postseason title for The Miami FC as a club, and the first postseason title for any Miami professional soccer team.

]]>http://magiccity.soccer/2018/08/04/the-miami-fc-2-claims-2018-npsl-crown-with-win-over-fc-motown/feed/02043Miami FC v FC Motown: Previewing The NPSL Championship Matchhttp://magiccity.soccer/2018/08/03/miami-fc-v-fc-motown/
http://magiccity.soccer/2018/08/03/miami-fc-v-fc-motown/#respondSat, 04 Aug 2018 03:58:38 +0000http://magiccity.soccer/?p=2037What if I told you the off-season would leave Miami’s only professional club in absolute chaos? What if I told you the roster would suffer an exodus of talent? How about if I told you the team would rally and reach a national championship? Would you have believed me? I wouldn’t blame you if you …

]]>What if I told you the off-season would leave Miami’s only professional club in absolute chaos? What if I told you the roster would suffer an exodus of talent? How about if I told you the team would rally and reach a national championship? Would you have believed me? I wouldn’t blame you if you wouldn’t. Yet, that’s exactly where Miami FC find themselves today. One match against FC Motown away from a national title and a vindication story made for the movies.

It’s easy to view Miami FC as the anti-hero. The club that has notably thrown a wrench into a system, that for some, was running perfectly. The Miami FC organization was unafraid to call out those in power and question the status quo with their CAS complaint and their push for #OpenSoccer. These bold stances could have played a part in the demise of the NASL and put them in the very position they are in today. They have found a way to re-emerge from a pit of misery and back into national spotlight.

A new coach, a myriad of new players, and other outcasts formed together to bring this team on a run that has seen them win nine straight. Undoubtedly the roster will see this match as an opportunity to play for future contracts. With most of Miami’s contracts officially coming off the books, USL and MLS trials can await many on the roster. A good showing against Motown may just be enough to land their next contract and earn paychecks well into October.

Keys To A Miami FC Victory:

Throughout the playoffs Miami has had the upper hand in professional skill and experience against all of the clubs they have faced. Since their Conference clinching match against Jacksonville, Miami has faced three straight opponents whose rosters are comprised of college athletes looking for a place to train before their upcoming season. Motown has a formidable roster featuring former USYNT call ups and MLS talent. Midfielder Dilly Duka boasts MLS experience, Julius James spent time with the strikers, and Matt Nigro picked up the league’s golden ball award.

Miami has done a fantastic job in taking what the opposing defense has given them and making a meal out of it. Against Atlanta and Little Rock, the opponent was content with allowing Miami to work the flanks during the extent of the match. The precision of the outside-in ball was key to Miami’s success. Should Motown attempt to quell the forward progress of Tyler Polak and Sean McFarlane, the midfield is more than ready to activate. If Dylan Mares and Ariel Martinez are given space to operate, expect slashing runs from Kris Tyrpak and Dario Suarez to cause havoc for the Motown defense.

The Blues have had to deal with adapting to the styles of many amateur clubs throughout the year. We’ve heard from many on the roster that having to adjust the mindset from what professionals do to what amateurs do can prove difficult. Motown have used tactics similar to what you will see on the professional clubs in this country. Employing a high-press to force Miami into mistakes, on the backline, will be unlikely as one wrong move can result in a deadly counter.

Prediction:

If it couldn’t have been a New York Cosmos versus Miami FC final, this match up was a close second. While Motown have put up staggering figures (40 goals for, 5 against), they’ve done so in a conference that cannot provide a thorough test of the roster. Portland took Motown to the wire in the semi-final, and Motown clung to a victory against the Cosmos. Motown has proven worthy of being in this match, however, lack the overall quality of this Miami side. Should Motown take an early lead, sitting back and not pushing the match will prove costly.

]]>http://magiccity.soccer/2018/08/03/miami-fc-v-fc-motown/feed/02037Duluth Can’t Weather The Miami FC 2’s Stormhttp://magiccity.soccer/2018/07/30/duluth-cant-weather-the-miami-fc-2/
http://magiccity.soccer/2018/07/30/duluth-cant-weather-the-miami-fc-2/#respondMon, 30 Jul 2018 05:46:12 +0000http://magiccity.soccer/?p=1976The Miami FC 2 signed off a six-game stand at home by easing past Duluth FC with three unanswered goals. Somehow the deluge engulfing the rest of Florida on Saturday evening missed the Opa Locka-Miami Gardens area and the fans were treated to lovely evening perfect for soccer. And the fans showed up. The hype …

]]>The Miami FC 2 signed off a six-game stand at home by easing past Duluth FC with three unanswered goals.

Somehow the deluge engulfing the rest of Florida on Saturday evening missed the Opa Locka-Miami Gardens area and the fans were treated to lovely evening perfect for soccer. And the fans showed up. The hype of the International Champions Cup and the hoopla of Futbol Miami MLS has not dampened the enthusiasm of the Miami FC faithful. Many people in this part of the World claim to love soccer, the 1289 people who showed up to this claim are probably the ones who mean it. The second highest attendance of the season at the Bob.

They were rewarded handsomely for their loyalty. By turning their noses up to the vacuous ICC happening a few minutes away at the exanimate Hard Rock Stadium they witnessed FC power into the final game of the NPSL playoffs in style. Miami set their stall out early and took the game to the visitors. Jaime Chavez was in the mood, creating a good chance for Mares before going close himself. Duluth were totally defensive. If there was rain in the rest of South Florida, the only rain here was falling on the Duluth net. And the raindrops were soccer balls. Kris Tyrpak hit the post with a great effort. Hoffelner in the Duluth goal was forced into numerous saves which gave Miami a sequence of corner kicks that came to nothing. There was a rocking atmosphere at the Bob. The temporary home of Miami FC has turned into a fortress for the club, they are unbeaten at St. Thomas University.

But the defense held firm until Chavez was felled in the box for a clear penalty. Martinez was the man to take the spot kick and he drove it home confidently to put FC one up. Ariel deserved a goal, he’d been running the show. The first half would end like that thanks mainly to Lady Luck as Chavez thundered a shot onto the crossbar and Mares curled a delicious free kick just wide of the goal. Miami were just 45 minutes away from the ultimate finale.

No changes in personnel and no changes in script for the second half. Duluth were pinned back from the off. Duluth just couldn’t get the ball off Steele, Mares and Martinez in the midfield. Hoffelner continued playing a blinder. He’s on the list for NPSL goalkeeper of the season and it’s easy to see why, the second half saw him underline his credentials with a string of saves. Nothing could be done about The Miami FC 2’s second goal though. Tomas Greco with another assist after he entered play for Martinez. The youngster whipping a ball across for McFarlane to power home with his head.

McFarlane would turn creator in stoppage time. Squaring across the face of goal for another substitute, Jeff Michaud, to force home from close range. It ended 3-0 and it should probably have been more. But that might have been unfair on Duluth who tried to play their part without resorting to some of the dirty tactics we’ve seen this season, in fact there was only one yellow card apiece for the two teams all game.

Just one more game remains and that will be the big one, the NPSL national final vs FC Motown. The outfit from Morristown overcame FC Mulhouse Portland in dramatic fashion with a goal in the dying moments of extra time. Miami will have to travel to New Jersey but one more win will put the exclamation point on this wonderful NPSL adventure.

]]>http://magiccity.soccer/2018/07/30/duluth-cant-weather-the-miami-fc-2/feed/01976Miami FC 2 v Duluth FC: Previewing The Matchhttp://magiccity.soccer/2018/07/27/miami-fc-2-v-duluth-fc/
http://magiccity.soccer/2018/07/27/miami-fc-2-v-duluth-fc/#respondSat, 28 Jul 2018 03:00:38 +0000http://magiccity.soccer/?p=1953For The Miami FC faithful, this season has gone just about as well as you could’ve hoped. Sure, a longer U.S. Open Cup run would have been welcomed, but this post-season has been a delight for supporters. Coming off the hiatus of the NASL, Miami FC was left with no place to play. In a …

]]>For The Miami FC faithful, this season has gone just about as well as you could’ve hoped. Sure, a longer U.S. Open Cup run would have been welcomed, but this post-season has been a delight for supporters. Coming off the hiatus of the NASL, Miami FC was left with no place to play. In a scramble the organization created Miami FC 2 and entered the NPSL’s Southeast Conference. That last minute addition is now one of the final four teams vying for the NPSL Title.

The professional talent has been the determining factor for getting out of the Southeast conference despite hiccups to Jacksonville and Miami United. The club always knew that this season would be a marathon and not a sprint and have played their best soccer as of late. With Dylan Mares being named to the National XI of the league, Miami’s midfield is as dynamic as they come. Add in a proven professional goal scorer in Jaime Chavez and a solid defense with keeper Mario Daniel Vega, this team was an odds-on favorite to win the national title.

As for Duluth, they’re on a tear of their own. Entering the match the club from the coastal town off Lake Superior have won four straight, two in penalty kicks. Duluth survived a 2-2 first round contest in the playoffs against Grand Rapids FC, in penalties 4-3. In the Northwest Region Semi’s last Saturday, a 115th minute penalty kick eliminated their Minnesota rivals, Minneapolis City. The next night, they played their third straight contest of extra time and bounced the top-seed, AFC Ann Arbor, in penalties.

Keys To A Miami Victory:

Duluth has managed to absolutely drag out games and congest opponents ability to work in the midfield. Luckily for Miami, the midfield has been bypassed often by the system set by manager Paul Dalglish. Those are words that one would never typically say, but it’s worked. In the previous contest, fullbacks Tyler Polak and Sean McFarlane were more advanced in the attacks than Dylan Mares and Ariel Martinez. With the wings operating the full length of the pitch, Duluth will have to support their defensive width to keep Miami at bay.

If the play continues to grow from the outside-in, Duluth’s midfield could have enough confusion to Miami’s benefit. Kris Tyrpak and Dario Suarez have been amazing on outside-in runs, but even more dangerous when being unleashed from the middle of the field. Miami has done a good job taking what the defense has given them, especially against teams like Atlanta and Little Rock.

Duluth beating Ann Arbor should not be taken lightly, even if Duluth parked the bus for some time. Miami has struggled to breakdown congestion in the midfield within their own conference. Duluth’s midfield will perhaps be their biggest test since Jacksonville. Jonny Steele will have to be nothing short of efficient in his distribution as Miami’s first choice holding midfielder. If he can link play between the centrebacks and the attack, Miami will likely cruise to a national final birth.

Prediction:

Duluth does not possess a roster that carries an obvious mismatch as the Atlanta Silverbacks had with Thierry Jules. Duluth has been able to finish counterattacks efficiently but has yet to play a defense as organized as this side. While it’s fair to say that the Blues defense has been shaky they’ve held their ground when up against the ropes. Both of these clubs are in the final four for a reason. Expecting a blow out of any kind would be foolish.

]]>http://magiccity.soccer/2018/07/27/miami-fc-2-v-duluth-fc/feed/01953Miami FC 2 Advance To NPSL Final Four; Oust Little Rock 3-0http://magiccity.soccer/2018/07/22/miami-fc-2-advance-to-npsl-final-four-oust-little-rock-3-0/
http://magiccity.soccer/2018/07/22/miami-fc-2-advance-to-npsl-final-four-oust-little-rock-3-0/#respondSun, 22 Jul 2018 05:12:31 +0000http://magiccity.soccer/?p=1895In the words of the great musician Billy Joel, “Oh what a night”. The Miami FC 2 clinched their ticket to the national tournament and took care of business at the BOB. To make things even sweeter, Miami will get to play another match in front of the FC2 faithful. Despite some mid-week heroics, Little …

]]>In the words of the great musician Billy Joel, “Oh what a night”. The Miami FC 2 clinched their ticket to the national tournament and took care of business at the BOB. To make things even sweeter, Miami will get to play another match in front of the FC2 faithful. Despite some mid-week heroics, Little Rock was just no match for this professional outfit.

First Half

Early on you could tell that Miami was determined to exploit their advantage out on the flanks. From the opening moments of the game the fullbacks were pushing past and playing off Ariel Martinez and Dylan Mares. Martinez’ moment almost came early on as two beautiful passes to Suarez were sniffed out by the Rangers keeper Walid Essafi. Essafi would make a few more saves reminiscent to his match against Laredo. Unfortunately for Little Rock, his clean sheet would be broken in the 20th minute as Sean McFarlane whipped in an excellent cross from the right flank to Jaime Chavez. Chavez made no mistake and headed it home for the first goal of the night.

The second goal almost came moments later as Kris Tyrpak played a cheeky back-heel to Mares who was denied at point-blank range. It would be all Miami as Little Rock would struggle to exit their own end. Each time the Rangers looked to break, a poor pass would find a Miami player waiting to pounce. In the 41st minute, Dylan Mares would get redemption. Dario Suarez would cut through the heart of the Little Rock defense and find Mares who chipped Essafi to bring Miami’s lead to two.

Second Half

Coming out of the half, Paul Dalglish began to make changes with the Blues holding a commanding position in the match. Jaime Chavez exited for Coy Craft and the attack didn’t seem to miss a beat. Miami continued to dominate possession and unleash a barrage of shots against Essafi, all of which were saved. In the 64th minute, Dalglish would make a triple substitution allowing Tyler Ruthven, Jeff Michaud, and Tomas Greco to enter the match for Tyrpak, Martinez, and Mason Trafford.

Little Rock’s best effort would come in the 71st minute as a link up of play would find them with a rare spell of possession near Miami’s goal. A lateral ball was played towards a Rangers forward but his curling effort was wide of the target. In the 72nd minute, Little Rock would finally register a shot on target that was corralled comfortably by the captain Mario Daniel Vega. In the 84th minute, Tomas Greco played an excellent ball forward for Suarez in the danger area. The former Ann Arbor Mighty Oak buried his effort past Essafi and brought Miami’s lead to three. Little Rock tried valiantly to push the action in the final ten minutes of the match, but Miami’s fitness proved too much to handle.

The ceremony proved to be delightful for players, staff, and supporters. Almost everyone at the field including some spectators had a chance to interact with the region trophy and take photos with their favorite players. Each member of the Miami FC was awarded with a NPSL South Region Champions medal. We caught up with man of the match Dylan Mares and manager Paul Dalglish to get their thoughts after being crowned the 2018 NPSL South Region Champs. See what they had to say below.

The Rest Of The Final Four

It was a crazy night in the NPSL as all of the Region Finals were taking place throughout the night. The New York Cosmos found themselves bounced from the tournament by FC Motown. Out west, FCM Portland outlasted Orange County FC in a goal fest, 6-4, earning the fourth seed in the National bracket and the right to travel to New Jersey to take on Motown. In another upset, Duluth FC conceded a goal late yet managed to hold during extra time to force penalties. Duluth would sneak past AFC Ann Arbor 4-3. Duluth went 120 minutes two straight matches and now have earned the right to travel to Miami for their shot at a spot at the National Finals.

]]>http://magiccity.soccer/2018/07/22/miami-fc-2-advance-to-npsl-final-four-oust-little-rock-3-0/feed/01895Miami FC 2 v Little Rock Rangers: Previewing The Matchhttp://magiccity.soccer/2018/07/21/miami-fc-2-v-little-rock-preview/
http://magiccity.soccer/2018/07/21/miami-fc-2-v-little-rock-preview/#respondSat, 21 Jul 2018 04:27:41 +0000http://magiccity.soccer/?p=1887The season that just doesn’t want to end continues. Magic City soccer fans are going to be treated to at least one more match of significant importance Saturday as The Miami FC 2 take on the Rangers of Little Rock, Arkansas. In a season that has bloomed in the darkest of skies, Miami has a …

]]>The season that just doesn’t want to end continues. Magic City soccer fans are going to be treated to at least one more match of significant importance Saturday as The Miami FC 2 take on the Rangers of Little Rock, Arkansas. In a season that has bloomed in the darkest of skies, Miami has a unique ability to win their second NPSL title of the season and earn a place in the national finals.

Miami enters the South Region title match with a seven game winning streak that dates back to June. While the results haven’t been decisive in the key matches, the professional experience has showed to be enough to keep this team moving through. The match against Atlanta proved that manager Paul Dalglish was unafraid to stick to his tactics and rest players. His tactics may have well paid off as the Blues have an extra days rest and Little Rock has had to endure one heck of a commute.

The Little Rock Rangers have won the hearts of their hometown after defeating the Laredo Heat in the second half of extra-time. Going into the match an underdog, Rangers vanquished any hope for a perfect season for the team from the border. If Miami’s seven game winning streak is impressive, perhaps the amateur Arkansas squad boasting a seven game winning streak of their own is far more impressive. So impressive for the heartland city, that the team was able to raise more than $20,000 in less than 24 hours to fund the trip to the magic city.

Keys To A Miami Victory:

As Tyler Ruthven so eloquently stated after the win against Atlanta, it’s safe to say Miami has absolutely zero knowledge on this Rangers club. While that could be the honest truth, we assume that the Miami FC coaching staff have at least watched the last two Rangers matches, just to get a feel of their opposition. As they did against Laredo, Little Rock will likely look to sit back and absorb pressure and hope for an opportunity to strike back on a counter.

Miami has proven to be vulnerable over the season against teams that have sat back and pounced at an opportunity to counter. Goalkeeper Mario Daniel Vega has made outstanding saves often after each defensive breakdown, allowing Miami to maintain their winning ways. The Blues must stay responsible in their own end of the pitch to not allow Little Rock any opportunities off stupid mistakes. Vega has never been the most accurate distributor of the ball, but showed no signs of gaffes after the mistake made against Jacksonville in the Sunshine Conference final.

As for the attack, Miami’s firepower will likely go untamed until a possible NPSL national title match. Kris Tyrpak and Dario Suarez have caused havoc on the wings against other amateur defenses. Don Smart will likely miss his third straight match with a lower body injury, and luckily Sean McFarlane has proven to be an amazing understudy. Expect nothing less on Saturday from the wingers while getting support from fullbacks Tyler Polak and McFarlane.

Prediction:

Unfortunately for Little Rock coming into this match off a long commute and two straight games going a full 120 minutes will be hard to overcome. Miami’s pace and tactical ability will be the deciding factor. If Miami are to score an early goal, expect Jaime Chavez to open the floodgates in a match that can prove that teams like Miami should not be playing in a 4th division league. While the match may be a commemoration of the Little Rock season, the Blues will look to hopefully lock the second seed in the national tournament.

Miami FC 4 – 0 Little Rock Rangers

Miami will likely line up in a 4-3-2-1 defensively while flaring Suarez and Tyrpak wide as wingers on the attack.

]]>http://magiccity.soccer/2018/07/21/miami-fc-2-v-little-rock-preview/feed/01887Miami FC 2 Avoid A Slip Against Silverbackshttp://magiccity.soccer/2018/07/18/miami-fc-2-avoid-a-slip-against-silverbacks/
http://magiccity.soccer/2018/07/18/miami-fc-2-avoid-a-slip-against-silverbacks/#commentsThu, 19 Jul 2018 00:03:45 +0000http://magiccity.soccer/?p=1859It wasn’t easy under the floodlights of the Bob for Miami FC 2 on a steaming hot Tuesday night in Miami. A very useful Atlanta Silverbacks squad was in town for more NPSL playoff soccer. Atlanta were the strongest side to come to the 305 all season and they might feel like they could have …

]]>It wasn’t easy under the floodlights of the Bob for Miami FC 2 on a steaming hot Tuesday night in Miami. A very useful Atlanta Silverbacks squad was in town for more NPSL playoff soccer. Atlanta were the strongest side to come to the 305 all season and they might feel like they could have got something out of this very even game, but Miami’s unbeaten run continues.

There wasn’t much turnaround following the 3-1 defeat of arch rivals Jacksonville Armada. A little less than 72 hours after that triumph in the Sunshine Conference playoff final it was back to business against the Silverbacks in the south area semi-final. Mercifully, this was the last possible midweek evening kick off this season. The FC faithful were still filing in during the first 10 minutes, but they didn’t miss much. Both sides were trading jabs and feeling each other out.

First Half

The quick return to action hadn’t helped the pitch, which was still a little cut up from the weekend. Jeff Michaud lost his footing in a good area which sprung a promising counter from Atlanta, fortunately that came to nothing. Then Vega was almost caught out by a harmless shot spooning up off a divot. He did well to adjust his footing to swipe the ball over the bar.

It was Sean McFarlane who blew the contest open with a sumptuous left foot finish after a lovely set piece routine. From a corner Mares played it short to Chavez. Jaime sent the ball backward to Martinez who took one touch and measured a ball perfectly for McFarlane, the big Jamaican burying an unstoppable volley past Billington in the Atlanta goal. The keeper had no chance.

FC threw the Silverbacks a lifeline though. Atlanta were forced into an early sub, it may have been tactical or through injury, but Thierry Jules replaced Kebba Demba and instantly changed the game. A huge center forward, he capitalized on sloppy play from Miami and fired home from close range after Ruthven and McFarlane had failed to cover their zones in defense to leave him totally unmarked. It was a lack of concentration from FC and they were punished for it.

Second Half

Miami threw on Tyrpak and Brian James for Steele and Mares at half time. Steele did well but it looks like he’s still getting his match fitness back after a long lay off. It probably came down to a choice between sacrificing Dylan or Ariel for Tyrpak. Not an easy call for Dalglish but FC badly needed Tyrpak’s technical ability in the final third of the field. James did well in his 45 minute cameo. The youngster confidently slotting into a deep-lying midfield role, he hardly put a foot wrong. But once again Kris Tyrpak would put his name up in lights.

With time waning and extra time looking likely the referee sent off Atlanta’s David Koloko for a robust tackle on McFarlane. There was some meat in it but no malice. The challenge was borderline but a red was probably harsh. Miami have been on the receiving end of some contentious cards this season themselves, this time it was our turn to be on the upside of it.

From close to the corner flag on the right flank, fellow substitute Tomas Greco whipped over an inviting left-footed in-swinger. Greco had put it at the perfect height to attack and Tyrpak beat the sluggish keeper to the ball. It seemed to take an eternity to cross the line but it was the match winner. FC comfortably negotiating the remaining time to book their place in the South Final. That game is Saturday 21st at 7pm against Little Rock Rangers, who had surprisingly knocked off Laredo Heat in the other semi. Tickets are available by clicking on this link!

]]>http://magiccity.soccer/2018/07/18/miami-fc-2-avoid-a-slip-against-silverbacks/feed/11859Miami FC 2 v Atlanta Silverbacks: Previewing The Matchhttp://magiccity.soccer/2018/07/17/miami-fc-2-v-atlanta-silverbacks-preview/
http://magiccity.soccer/2018/07/17/miami-fc-2-v-atlanta-silverbacks-preview/#respondTue, 17 Jul 2018 13:49:07 +0000http://magiccity.soccer/?p=1834Last week the Miami FC 2 managed to do something they couldn’t last year, win a playoff. Unlike the NASL, the NPSL has a “three-round” playoff system. After a team makes it out of their conference playoffs, they enter the regional stage, then move on to the national final four. During the playoffs each round …

]]>Last week the Miami FC 2 managed to do something they couldn’t last year, win a playoff. Unlike the NASL, the NPSL has a “three-round” playoff system. After a team makes it out of their conference playoffs, they enter the regional stage, then move on to the national final four. During the playoffs each round is a one-legged fixture hosted by the team that earned a higher points per game tally during the regular season. Miami’s stellar regular season forces the Atlanta Silverbacks to come to town.

Preview:

It’s amazing to think that Miami finds themselves in another playoff match against a club that has its roots in the North American Soccer League. The Atlanta Silverbacks played in the second division until 2015, the year before Miami FC took the field. When digging through the all-time roster, a few familiar names come up. Jaime Chavez used to wear a Silverbacks shirt alongside, Atlanta-area native, Tyler Ruthven. Kwadwo Poku was discovered by Eric Wynalda during his time with the Silverbacks as well. In each of the past three seasons in the NPSL, the club has finished second in their conference and qualified for the US Open Cup.

Jaime Chavez Once Wore The Silverbacks Shirt From 2014-2015

To get here, Atlanta had to go at it the hard way by defeating Asheville City and then taking on the Southeast Conference top seed Chattanooga FC. The perennial powerhouse gave Atlanta all they could handle and then some. Excellent defensive play and some marvelous saves by both clubs took the game scoreless into penalty kicks. During penalties, the Chattanooga goalkeeper came off his line early on at least three separate occasions making two saves. On each of the saves, the referee mandated a re-kick allowing Atlanta to get past Chattanooga without a single miss.

While both clubs come into this game on two days rest, Miami avoid the long commute. While the turnover is quick, Paul Dalglish and company won’t be marred by sitting in a vehicle for an excessive period of time. After throttling the Armada in the Sunshine Conference Championship, Miami’s biggest test may perhaps be behind them until the national playoffs. Miami FC 2 will certainly welcome the return of Jaime Chavez into the mix as the three headed attacking monster of Chavez, Kris Tyrpak, and Dario Suarez will re-unite against this amateur side.

Keys To A Miami FC 2 Victory:

As previously mentioned, Miami’s toughest test in terms of talent may have just passed them. There are no teams remaining in the regional stage of the tournament that boast the professional experience and talent of this Magic City squad. If the match were to be played on paper, undoubtedly the Blues would run amuck their competition, but, time and time again this season we’ve seen Miami get frustrated by amateur side and their tactics.

Miami has struggled to breakdown sides that have played five defenders across the back, something Atlanta has never done. Changing tactics for a match as big as this one usually results in a team losing its way. While Atlanta’s 4-2-2-2 formation poses some challenges, Miami’s ability to play out wide will wreak havoc on this type of formation. The 4-2-2-2 can clog the middle of the pitch and force teams out wide. That can work great against sides who don’t have the pace and crossing ability of this Miami side.

Jaime Chavez will need to be a nightmare in tonight’s contest for Miami to advance comfortably. With Tyrpak and Suarez causing chaos on the wings, Chavez’ finishing ability will be in the spotlight. Expect Tyler Polak and Sean McFarlane to play their respective wingers into dangerous areas freeing up space for Martinez and Mares to go unmarked near the top of the penalty area.

Prediction:

The short recovery time for an amateur side that went through a grinding 120 minutes will be on display tonight. Having to endure a ten-hour travel period on tired legs won’t bode well for the Silverbacks. While Atlanta is no stranger to the heat, humidity is another beast. Expect Miami to take the lead into the half, but if the Blues score a goal in the first ten minutes of the match, the route will be on.

]]>http://magiccity.soccer/2018/07/17/miami-fc-2-v-atlanta-silverbacks-preview/feed/01834The Miami FC 2 claims NPSL Sunshine Conference title in complete performance against Jacksonville Armadahttp://magiccity.soccer/2018/07/15/the-miami-fc-2-claims-npsl-sunshine-conference-title-in-complete-performance-against-jacksonville-armada/
http://magiccity.soccer/2018/07/15/the-miami-fc-2-claims-npsl-sunshine-conference-title-in-complete-performance-against-jacksonville-armada/#commentsSun, 15 Jul 2018 16:47:57 +0000http://magiccity.soccer/?p=1816With the loss of forward Jaime Chávez to a red card and the late scratch of Don Smart, it appeared Saturday night’s challenge against Jacksonville Armada FC for the NPSL Sunshine Conference championship would be an uphill battle. But virtually from the moment of kickoff, The Miami FC 2 were in the driver’s seat and …

]]>With the loss of forward Jaime Chávez to a red card and the late scratch of Don Smart, it appeared Saturday night’s challenge against Jacksonville Armada FC for the NPSL Sunshine Conference championship would be an uphill battle. But virtually from the moment of kickoff, The Miami FC 2 were in the driver’s seat and their play took them all the way to the title, thoroughly defeating the Armada 3-1.

“That’s why I came here,” head coach Paul Dalglish said after the match. “I took this job because I believe this organization wants to win every tournament that they play in. Thankfully, we’ve got the first one, but we’re not done yet.”

The main concern for Miami FC was the ability to possess the ball without Smart’s control on the field, and the ability to finish without Chávez on the field. Both proved to be non-issues, as Coy Craft up top and Sean McFarlane at right back handled the challenge more than capably.

Adapting to challenge

“Dario (Suarez) loves playing on the left-hand side. The way I look at the team, when I’m picking the team, is let’s try to get as many players in their natural positions as possible,” Dalglish said. “If you need to put one player, which is a square peg in a round hole, then it’s only one person that’s affected.

“I thought Coy was fantastic, considering it’s not his natural position. But I thought everybody else played in their natural positions and you saw the fluidity of the team.”

In the eighth minute, Kris Tyrpak was able to take advantage of some awkward play from Jacksonville goalkeeper and NPSL Conference XI selection Brian Holt. A ball into the box from Dylan Mares was headed by Tyrpak, and Holt’s punch away was a swing and miss. Tyrpak put just enough on it and game Miami a 1-0 lead.

Ciarán Kilduff dragged the Armada back into the match in the 28th minute when he stole possession from Mares, took one touch around goalkeeper Mario Daniel Vega, and finished with a low, strong shot. It was very much against the run of play, and had to worry the Miami FC faithful on hand.

Offensive explosion

That worry lasted about five minutes, when a Tyler Polak cross led to a strong finish from Suarez. All Suarez needed to do was run onto the ball, and that’s what he did to give The Miami FC 2 a lead it would never relinquish.

In the last ten minutes of the first half and the first five minutes of the second half, it appeared Armada might have found their footing. Better stretches of possession and more shots on target than they had in the rest of the game combined.

That all came to a thumping end in the 53rd minute. Tyrpak played a brilliant through ball to Ariel Martinez, who was able to hold up play and allow Tyrpak to fly back into the box and finish the match off.

The Miami FC 2 will now get ready for Tuesday night at 7 p.m. when the Atlanta Silverbacks of the Southeast Conference, another former NASL side (the Silverbacks left the league after the 2015 season). The winner of that game will advance to the South Region final.

]]>http://magiccity.soccer/2018/07/15/the-miami-fc-2-claims-npsl-sunshine-conference-title-in-complete-performance-against-jacksonville-armada/feed/31816The Miami FC 2, Miami United FC well represented in NPSL Conference XI selectionshttp://magiccity.soccer/2018/07/14/the-miami-fc-2-miami-united-fc-well-represented-in-npsl-conference-xi-selections/
http://magiccity.soccer/2018/07/14/the-miami-fc-2-miami-united-fc-well-represented-in-npsl-conference-xi-selections/#respondSat, 14 Jul 2018 10:08:53 +0000http://magiccity.soccer/?p=1813Miami-Dade County was well represented in the NPSL Conference XI on Friday, as three players from The Miami FC 2 and two players from Miami United FC were recognized by the league for their performance in the Sunshine Conference. In addition, Miami FC coach Paul Dalglish was named the coach of the year in the …

]]>Miami-Dade County was well represented in the NPSL Conference XI on Friday, as three players from The Miami FC 2 and two players from Miami United FC were recognized by the league for their performance in the Sunshine Conference. In addition, Miami FC coach Paul Dalglish was named the coach of the year in the conference.

For Miami FC, it had a player recognized in all outfield positions. Defender Mason Trafford, midfielder Dylan Mares and forward Jaime Chavez all got the nod. Only Jacksonville Armada FC, who Miami FC will meet in the NPSL Sunshine Conference championship game on Saturday, had more players honored.

For Miami United, it was defender Daniel Navarro and forward David Ochoa who received recognition.

Doing more with less

What makes Ochoa’s honor all the more impressive, and what hints to the quality that he brought to the field this year, is that Miami United has been without him as a starter since June 6 when he suffered an injury in the first half of the team’s game against Orlando City in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.